Twee liggende koeien 1809 - 1812

Anthony Oberman made this print of two resting cows with etching in the Netherlands, most likely in the early nineteenth century. The Dutch Republic had been a center of specialized painting of animals and landscapes for two centuries, but by Oberman’s time, the country had been invaded by France and was undergoing major political and economic change. The image, in its simplicity, invokes an idealized vision of rural life. What is interesting about the image is its cultural references and historical associations. Cows, of course, are associated with rural labor, agriculture, and food production. But beyond that, cows can be seen as symbols of national identity and pride. During times of upheaval and uncertainty, artists turned to traditional images of rural life to evoke feelings of stability and cultural pride. As art historians, we can learn more about this piece by researching nineteenth-century Dutch agricultural practices and the ways in which the Dutch countryside was represented in art and literature.